Roots Flagship Store Featuring Interactive Window Display
Toronto’s flagship Roots store has installed an interactive window display.
The interactive window display enables people to browse and shop regardless of business hours. The interactive window display is also a key component of the environmental initiatives that Roots is undertaking. To encourage Roots customers to join the “Roots Insider” email list, Roots is working with Zerofootprint to carbon offset each new subscription.
“The interactive touch screen is an excellent platform to help promote the launch of our new carbon credit initiative because it is an entirely paperless way to bring our Roots.com promotion to one of our stores,” said James Connell, Director, Digital Marketing at Roots.
The Roots interactive window display consists of a 60-inch image projected onto an interactive touch foil affixed to the inside of a window. When not in use, promotional video content is displayed.
The interactive window display program was created for Roots by iGotcha Media, (www.i-gotcha.com), a Montreal-based digital signage firm.
Apple Launches iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store At Starbucks
Apple and Starbucks have formed an exclusive partnership that lets customers wirelessly browse, search for, preview, buy and download music from the iTunes(R) Wi-Fi Music Store at Starbucks onto their iPod(R) touch, iPhone(TM) or PC or Mac(R) running iTunes.
When a customer enters a Starbucks Store their device will automatically recognize the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store using a high-speed Wi-Fi wireless network with no connection fee or hotspot login. Customers will be able to browse, search and freely preview millions of songs, including a new ‘Now Playing’ service which displays the name of the song playing in the Starbucks store at that moment, then easily buy and download songs or albums directly to their device. Prices and selection on the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store are the same as on the regular iTunes Store.
“With this partnership, we’re bringing Apple’s leadership in digital music together with not only our retail footprint, but the unique Starbucks experience, to offer customers a world-class digital music experience,” said Howard Schultz, chairman, Starbucks Coffee Company. “Introducing this new service is a natural extension of our music strategy which only enhances the retail coffee experience for customers by helping them discover and acquire new music instantly.”
Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, said, “Imagine walking into a participating Starbucks, hearing a great song, and being able to instantly download it onto your iPod or iPhone. We think this is very cool.”
REI Opens New Prototype In Boulder, CO
Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), a retail cooperative providing quality outdoor gear has opened its first prototype store to test new retail concepts and green building features. “REI’s prototype initiative is structured around our community involvement, environmental stewardship and commitment to be a gateway to the outdoors,” said Brian Unmacht, REI’s Sr. V.P., Store Development.
Some of the most striking differences in the store’s appearance occur through design changes and the incorporation of renewable materials. Located at the center of the 42,000 sq. ft. store is an elevated community center -- a first for REI. The community center highlights REI’s commitment to connecting customers to resources for recreation opportunities, outdoor and conservation clubs and non-profit organizations.
Green materials, such as bamboo, recycled rubber and cork, have been incorporated throughout the store. Three solar strategies, passive solar, solar thermal and solar electric, were incorporated into the design. Natural daylight is channeled throughout the store through Solatubes.™ A soaring entryway skylight collects energy from imbedded silicon solar cells, and is the first installation of its kind in a retail environment.
Veria Debuts First Retail Wellness Center
Veria, has opened its first Veria Wellness Center, the first of 50 nationwide retail locations to open over the next 18 months. Veria Wellness Centers offer an impressive selection of personal day spa services, plus a large studio area for yoga classes, tai chi, wellness seminars, and more. Veria Wellness Centers will offer an exclusive range of Veria brand products in wellness categories such as nutritional supplements, vitamins and herbal remedies, natural and organic beauty care, aromatherapy, organic fiber clothing, books, music, and natural baby care items.
Veria’s integrated, multi-faceted approach combines the national network of Veria Wellness Centers with a powerful Internet portal, http://www.veria.com and Veria TV, a television network of original wellness lifestyle programming.
Dennys To Open In Pilot Travel Centers
Denny’s Corp. will develop restaurants within Pilot Travel Centers across the U.S. This new relationship represents the joining of two of the nation's largest companies in their respective categories: the largest full-service family restaurant chain and the largest operator of travel centers.
“Developing restaurants along our nation’s highways has always been an important part of Denny’s heritage,” said Nelson Marchioli, Denny’s CEO. “Denny’s customers, many of whom are highway travelers, will now have the opportunity to enjoy good food at a great value 24/7 while fulfilling all of their travel needs in one convenient location.”
The Denny’s restaurant within the Pilot Travel Center will be based on Denny’s new prototype design with square footage and seating in line with a typical building.
Pizza Patron Opens First “Rapidito” Unit
Pizza Patrón, the premier Latino pizza brand, has introduced the first Pizza Patrón Rapidito concept at La Gran Plaza, in Fort Worth TX. The brand’s new Rapidito unit is designed specifically for malls, airports, and other special venues.
La Gran Plaza is a unique mall among the first of its kind in the U.S. which caters exclusively to the Latino consumer. The mall’s architecture and atmosphere resemble that of a typical colonial city in central Mexico creating an environment that is culturally sensitive to the Hispanic family.
Antonio Swad, Pizza Patrón’s Founder, said, “Our new Rapidito unit allows us to serve our core Hispanic customer. As our customer base grows, we need to find new ways to serve them.”
Mattress Works To Establish Store-Within-A-Store At Wal-Marts
Mattress Works, an independent bedding company, has signed a lease agreement with Wal-Mart to establish bedding shops in the vestibule space of Wal-Mart Super Centers.
“Each Mattress Works location will be located in a Wal-Mart Super Center, and each will be managed by a local Operating Partner - an established bedding retailer who knows the local market and operates the store as an independent retailer,” said David Karr, CEO of Mattress Works
“Our goal is to provide Wal-Mart shoppers with the ‘value experience’ they have come to expect,” Karr said.
Safeway Announces First Solar-Powered Grocery Stores
Safeway has launched a new environmental project to power its California stores with renewable solar energy. The company installed solar panels atop a newly renovated Safeway Lifestyle store in Dublin, CA and plans to extend the program as part of a broader renewable energy initiative. Solar equipment at the Dublin Safeway store will provide 20 percent of the stores’ average power usage.
“Safeway is taking its green power initiative to the next level as we identify additional California store locations for its solar stores program,” said Joe Pettus, Safeway Sr.V.P., Fuel & Energy. “The investment in renewable energy, both solar and wind makes sense for both the environment and our company.”
Wal-Mart Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Nationwide
Wal-Mart recently celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month, incorporating Hispanic product features in categories such as food, home, toys, and health and beauty aids.
The stores featured special Hispanic Heritage Month product sections and signage, incorporating Latin music offerings such as Gloria Estefan’s new album release, “90 Millas” (“90 Miles”), in an exclusive CD/DVD package for Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart tailors shopping to its diverse customer base, including Hispanics, through its “Store of the Community” concept, which uses locally relevant store design and a merchandise mix reflecting a respect for its Hispanic customers’ needs. The company also works closely with Wal-Mart de Mexico to provide familiar products to the significant Mexican-American population here.
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